Sampling apparatus



p 1965 K. B. KILBOURNE 3,208,285

SAMPLING APPARATUS Filed March 1, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.

INVENTOR. KENNETH B. KILBOURNE ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 28, 1965 K. B. KILBOURNE 3,2083% SAMPLING APPARATUS Filed March 1,1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2v INVENTOR H B Kl LBOURNE ATTQRNEYS.

United States Patent G 3,208,285 SAMFLING APPARATUS Kenneth B.Kilbourne, Van Nuys, Caiif assignor to Standard Polymer, Inc., Van Nuys,Califi, a corporation of California Filed Mar. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 262,2659 Claims. (Cl. 73-4254) This invention relates to a sampling apparatusand more particularly relates to a sampling apparatus for taking anuncontaminated sample at any depth in a body of fluid.

In order to make chamical and biological analyses of the characteristicsand composition of the water found at various depths in a body of water,it is necessary to provide apparatus for taking a sample at a desireddepth without there being any possibility of contamination of the sampleby the water passed through on the way to or from the desired depth. Fordeep water use, the appara tus must be capable of being subjected toextremely high pressures, and if used in salt water, be able towithstand corrosion. Moreover, it is necessary that the samplecontainingchamber be constructed of some inert material so that there is nocontamination of the sample caused by its reaction with the chambermaterial. The sample apparatus must also be remotely operable, that is,there must be some way of trapping the sample in response to an act doneon the surface.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a samplingapparatus for taking uncontaminated samples from any depth in a body offluid.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide such anapparatus wherein a pair of valves may be simultaneously operated totrap a sample.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such anapparatus wherein one end of the apparatus is firmly attached to thelowering cable and the other end of the apparatus is releasably engagedwith the lowering cable, and wherein the inversion of the apparatus whenthe cable is released causes a sample to be trapped.

According to the present invention, a sampling apparatus is providedhaving a sample receiving chamber and a pair of passageways incommunication with the chamber. A valve is positioned in each passagewayand may be closed to prevent transfer of fluid between the chamher andthe body of fluid in which it is emerged. The sampling apparatus may beattached to a cable by a clamp and by a releasably engaging mechanismwhich mechanism can be caused to release the cable by sliding a weightdown the cable. Upon such release, the apparatus is caused to pivotabout the clamp with the result that a pair of interconnected valveactuators cause the valves to close and trap a sample. The apparatus isconstructed on non-corrosive materials and is provided with variouspressure ports to prevent implosion or other structural damage.

The details of the invention, as well as further objects and advantagesthereof, will become more apparent upon reference to the accompanyingdescription and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the sampling apparatus of the presentinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a cable release and valve lockassembly;

FIGURE 3 is a view, partly in section, of the cable release mechanismtaken along lines 33 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 4 is a view, partly in section, of the cable release mechanismtaken along lines 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a plug valve assembly takenalong lines 5-5 of FIGURE 1;

ice

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a cable clamp assembly;

FIGURE 8 is a detail view taken along lines 88 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURES 9 and 10 are operative views of the valve lock assembly showingit in the unlocked and locked positions respectively;

FIGURE 11 is a diagrammatic showing of the operation of the samplingapparatus of the present invention; and

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view of a drain valve assembly according to thepresent invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is shown a sampling apparatusconstructed according to the present invention. The sampling apparatushas a hollow, sample holding cylindrical housing 10 which can be openedor closed to the surrounding medium by means of plug valve assemblies 11and 12. The actuating lever 13 of the plug valve assembly 11 has itsouter end pivotally mounted in a cable clamp and release mechanism 14which is shown grasping a cable 15. A valve lock 16 is provided tocooperate with the valve actuating lever .13 and cable clamp and releasemechanism 14 to lock the plug valve in a predetermined position.

The valve actuating lever 17 of the plug valve assembly 12 has its outerend pivotally mounted on a cable clamp assembly 18 which also grasps thecable 15. The cable clamp and release mechanism 14 and the cableassembly 18 are joined by a connecting rod 19. For purposes ofconvenient handling, the sampling apparatus is provided with a handle 20mounted on the housing 10* by means of supports 21. A drain valve 23 isprovided for draining the interior of the housing 10 if it is desired todo so without opening the plug valves, for example, to withdraw a smallsample.

Referring now to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, the cable clamp and releasemechanism 14 shown in more detail. The cable clamp and release mechanism14 and valve lock 16 share a block 28, one side of which is providedwith a channel 29 through which passes the cable 15. If desired, thecable clamp and release mechanism 14 could be mounted on a separateblock mounted on the housing. Mounted on top of the block 28 is anL-shaped lever 30. The L-shaped lever 30 is pivotally mounted on asleeve 31 which is held in place by a screw 32 threadedly engaged withthe block 28. A coil spring 33 is wrapped around the sleeve 31 and hasone end 34 engaged with the L-shaped lever 30 and the other end 35engaged with a reduced portion 36 of a releasing rod 37 which ispositioned in a bore 38 in the block 28.

The spring 33 is held in place by a head 42 positioned over the sleeve31 and serves to force the L-shaped lever 30 away from the channel 29.When the mechanism 14 is set in a cable clamp position, the releasingrod 37 is in an elevated position as shown in FIGURE 3, the rod 37thereby engaging the L-shaped lever and holding it over the channel 29and cable 15 against the bias of the spring 33. This position is shownin solid lines in FIGURE 4. The rod 37 is maintained in this upwardposition by means of a spring 43 which seats on a plastic sleeve 44which is screw-threaded into the bore 38. The sleeve 44 permitscommunication between the bore 38 and the surrounding pressures on theblock 28. The rod 37 is provided with a head 45 adapted to be engaged bya weight 46 dropped down the cable 15.

When the weight 46 engages the head 45, the rod 37 is pushed downwardagainst the force of the spring 43 with the result that the shoulder ofthe reduced portion 36 of the rod 37 becomes flush with the uppersurface of the block 28. The spring 33 is now able to force the L-shapedlever 30 to rotate in a clockwise direction until it engages the reducedportion 36 of the rod 37. Rotation of the lever 30 to this position(shown in phantom in FIGURE 4) permits the cable 15 to leave the channel29 as the upper end of the sampling apparatus falls away from the cable15 as a result of its center of gravity being laterally displaced fromthe pivot point of the lever 17 on the clamp assembly 18.

Turning now to FIGURES and 6, there is shown in detail the constructionof the plug valve assemblies 11 and 12. Both of these assemblies areidentical and therefore, for purposes of simplicity, only the plug valveassembly 11 is shown in detail. The plug valve assembly 11 has a valvebody 50 having an axial passageway 51 extending therethrough and aradial passageway 52 in communication with the axial passageway 51.Positioned within the passageway 51 is a ball valve element or member 53having a passageway 54 therethrough.

The axial passageway 51 has a reduced portion 55 which forms a shoulder56. Seated on the shoulder 56 is an annular seal 57, preferably ofpolytetrafluoroethylene, which is held in position by packing 58. Theseal 57 prevents leakage around the ball 53 but permits it to rotateeasily. Threadedly connected to the valve body 50 is a hollow cap 62,the bottom surface of which forms a shoulder 63 on which is seated asecond annular seal 64 and a packing 65. The seal 64 is of the samematerial, and acts in the same manner as the seal 57. It can thus beseen that when the ball 53 is in the position shown in FIGURE 5, thepassageway 54 in the ball is aligned with the passageway 51 in the valvebody and fluid can flow freely between the surrounding medium and thechamber in the housing 10. When the ball 53 is rotated approximately 90degrees from the position shown, the passageway 54 of the ball 53 is nolonger in alignment with the passageway 51 and passage of fluid betweenthe interior of the housing and the surrounding medium is prevented byball 53 and the seals 57 and 64.

In order to keep the pressure in the interior of the valve body equal tothat of the surrounding medium, a pair of pasageways 66 are providedthrough the valve body 50. These passageways, of course, have no effecton the passage of fluid through the valve but do permit fluid to enterto lubricate the valve.

The ball valve element 53 is actuated by a stem 70 which is positionedin the radial passageway 52. The inner end of the stem 70 is providedwith a key 71 which enters a suitably shaped aperture 72 in the wall ofthe ball 53. The key 71 and aperture 72 are, of course, noncircular sothat rotary movement of the stem 70 will cause corresponding movement ofthe ball 53. The stem 70 is provided with an annular ring 73 from whichprotrudes a pin 74. This ring prevents lateral movement of the stem 70and thus prevents the key 71 from moving out of the aperture 72 orexerting too great a force on the ball 53.

For purposes of supporting the stem 70, the passageway 52 is providedwith a reduced portion 75 which supports a bushing 76 in which the stemrotates. The passageway is also provided with a shoulder 77 on which ismounted a split bumper 78 annularly extending about 270 and cooperatingwith the pin 74 to limit rotation of the stem 70 to approximately 90.The stem 70 is held in place by a retainer 79 which is screw-threaded inthe passageway 52. A bushing 80 is mounted in the retainer 79 to providea good bearing surface for the stem 70. The bushing 80, like the bushing76, is provided with a radial flange that engages the ring 73 andprovides a bearing surface for this ring.

The stem 70 is provided with a rectangular slot 81 for receiving one endof the valve actuating lever 13. The lever 13 is held in place by ascrew 82. The retainer 79 is provided with a plurality of passageways 83which act as pressure equalizing ports and permit the equalizing of thepressure within the passageway 52 with that of the surrounding medium.

Referring now to FIGURE 7, the cable clamp assembly 18 is shown in moredetail. A plate 83 is provided on its rear side with a shoulder 89having a leading surface 90 and a trailing surface 91. The front side ofthe plate 88 is provided with a raised block 92 having a channel 93therein for receiving the cable 15. As can best be seen in FIGURE 1, ahinged cover plate is held in place and forced to firmly engage thecable 15 by a wing nut 95. The cover plate 94 is preferably biased awayfrom the cable 15 by means of a spring 96.

As shown in FIGURE 7, the outer end of the valve actuating lever 17 ispivotally mounted on a shaft 97 extending outwardly from the rear sideof the plate 88. Also mounted on the shaft 97 is a clevis 98 which isattached to the lower end of the connecting rod 19. A spacer 99 ispositioned between the two arms of the clevis 98 to keep them properlyspaced apart and a nut 100 is threaded on the end of the shaft 97 tomaintain the clevis 98 and valve actuating lever 17 on the shaft 97.

Referring now to FIGURES 8, 9 and 10, as well as FIGURE 2, the operationof the valve lock 16 is shown. The block 28 is provided with first andsecond oblique slots 104 and 105, both of the slots being angled in thesame direction and separated by a narrow spacer 106. The slots 104 and105 cooperate with a dog 107 which is pivotally mounted on the valveactuating lever 13 by means of a bolt 108. A coil spring 109 has one endattached to the valve actuating lever 13 and the other end attached tothe dog 107 and acts to urge the dog to rotate clockwise into engagementwith the block 28.

The block 28 is provided with a slot 110 that parallels the slots 104and 105 and receives the end of the valve actuating lever 13 for pivotalmovement about a bolt 111. As can be seen from FIGURES 9 and 10, whenthe lever 13 pivots about the bolt 111 in a counterclockwise directionrelative to the block 28, the dog 107 slides up the slot 104, across thespacer 106, and into the slot 105. Once the dog 107 has entered the slot105, clockwise rotation of the lever 13 relative to the block 28 isprevented as the spring 109 forces the dog 107 against the wall of thespacer 106.

Referring now to FIGURE 12, there is shown in more detail the structureof the drain valve assembly 23. A housing 115 has a longitudinalpassageway 116 formed therein which communicates with a drain pipe 117protruding from the plug valve assembly 11 and communicating with theinterior of the plug valve assembly 11. The housing 115 can be attachedto the drain pipe 117 in any suitable manner, for example, by a pressfit. The housing 115 has a tapered, lateral passageway 118 formedtherein which intersects the longitudinal passageway 116.

A plug 119 has a tapered body 120, a knob 121 and a reduced portion 122.The body is provided with a sealing sleeve 123 over a portion of itslength. A passageway 124 is formed through the sleeve 123 and the body120 in a location permitting this passageway to be aligned with thepassageway 116 when the plug 119 is in a first position whereby fluidmay flow through these passageways.

To prevent flow of fluid through these passageways, the plug 119 ismerely rotated until the passageway 124- is out of alignment with thepassageway 116. The sealing sleeve 123 prevents any leakage around theplug, either to the passageway 116 or to the exterior of the housing.The plug is held in position by means of a coil spring 125 which ispositioned about the reduced portion 122v and acts against a washer 126and pin 127 to force the plug as far as possible into the taperedpassageway 118. For the purpose of establishing a good seal, the sleeve118 should be constructed of a material softer than that used in theconstruction of the housing 115 and the plug 119. All of these parts arepreferably of plastic, the

housing 115 and the plug 119 preferably being constructed of apolycarbonate resin such as that sold by the trade name of Lexan whilethe sleeve 123 is preferably made of polytetrafluoroethylene. The sleeve123 may be firmly mounted on thetapered body 120 by conventionaldifferential techinques.

The operation of the above described sampling apparatus will now beexplained. The sampling apparatus is attached to the cable 15 by meansof the cable clamp and release mechanism 14 and the cable clamp assembly18. The cable clamp and release mechanism is set so that the releasingrod 37 engages the L-shaped lever 30 and causes it to hold the cable 15in the channel 29. The wing nut 95 is tightened to cause the cover plate94 to firmly engage the lower end of the cable 15. In this position,shown in FIGURE 1 and in solid lines in FIGURE 11, the actuating levers13 and 17 are positioned so as to cause the valve elements 53 to assumethe position shown in FIGURE 5 so that the fluid can enter the housing10. In this position, the dog 107 is in the slot 104, the pins 74 of thestems 70 engage the ends of the split bumpers 78 to prevent furtherrelative movement between the actuating levers and the plug valveassemblies, and the upper surface of the valve actuating lever 17engages the trailing surface 91 of the shoulder 89 on the plate 88.

The sampling assembly is now lowered by means of the cable 15 to thedesired depth in the body of water to be sampled. Since both the plugvalves are open, the water passes freely through the housing so thatwhen the sampling assembly reaches the desired depth, only water at thatdepth is contained in the chamber in the housing 10. The weight 46 isnow slid down the cable to engage the head 45 of the releasing rod 37.The weight 46 causes the releasing rod 37 to be pressed downwardlyagainst the force of the spring 43 untilthe L-shaped lever 30 is free tomove under the force of the spring 33 until it engages the reducedportion 36 of the rod 37. This movement of the lever 30 enables thecable to leave the channel 29 in the block 28 and the sampling assemblyto fall away from the cable 15. The cable 15, of course, is still firmlygrasped by the cable clamp assembly 18 so the entire apparatus rotatesabout the shaft 97 on the cable clamp assembly. After the apparatus hasrotated about 105 degrees, the bottom surface of the valve actuatinglever 17 engages the leading surface 90 of the shoulder 89 on the plate88. The position of the apparatus shortly after this engagement is shownin phantom at B in FIGURE 11.

Since the cable clamp assembly 18 is held stationary, the valveactuating lever 17 can no longer move and continued movement of thesampling apparatus causes the movement of the plug valve assembly 12relative to this lever. This relative movement causes the valve body 50to move relative to the valve element 53 which is held against movementby the key 71 on the stem 70. This movement continues until thepassageway 54 in the ball 53 is out of alignment with the passageway 51of the valve body 50, thereby preventing escape of fluid from theinterior of the cylinder 10.

Since the block 28 is maintained a constant distance from the cableclamp assembly 18 by the actuating rod 19, the lever 13 is maintainedsubstantially parallel to the lever 17. Movement of the housing 10causes relative movement between the valve actuating lever 13 and itsvalve body 50, thereby causing the passageway 54 in the ball valveelement 53 to rotate out of alignment with the axial passageway 51 inthe valve body 50, and closing the other end of the housing 10. When thesampling apparatus has moved to the position shown in phantom at C inFIGURE 11, the valves are closed.

The relative movement of the valve actuating lever 13 i and the block 28has also caused the dog 107 to move into the slot 105. These members arethus locked against further relative movement and prevent furthermovement of the sampling apparatus relative to the cable clamp assembly18. The cable 15 is now hauled up, the plug valve assemblies 11 and 12preventing any flow of fluid into or out of the housing 10. Anuncontaminated sample of the water at a given depth is thus obtained,desired portions of which may be removed through the drain valve 23.Throughout the lowering and raising operation, the various pressureports previously described have equalized the pressure on all parts ofthe structure and thereby prevented any inplosion or other damage to thestructure.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that a sampling apparatushas been provided that is able to obtain an uncontaminated sample atvirtually any depth in a body of the fluid. All of the elements exceptthe various nuts and bolts, the levers 13 and 17, the assemblies 14 and18 and the pins 74 which are made of stainless steel are constructed ofany suitable plastic. Thus the sample is uncontaminated by metal. Theplastic construction provides visibility of the sample, light weight,durability and high impact resistance. The two pressure equalized plugvalves prevent any leakage and provide high mechanical reliability. Theapparatus requires little maintenance, which may be performed with thesimple tools commonly available.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms not departing fromthe spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present embodiment istherefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appendedclaims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes whichcome within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims aretherefore intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. Apparatus adapted to be lowered on a cable into a body of fluid fortaking a sample of the fluid, comprising:

a housing having a sample receiving chamber therein and a pair ofpassageways therethrough in communication with said chamber;

first valve means positioned in one of said passageways, said valvemeans having an open position permitting transfer of fluid between saidbody and said chamber and a closed position preventing transfer of fluidbetween said body and said chamber;

second valve means positioned in the other of said passageways, saidvalve means having an open position permitting transfer of fluid betweensaid body and said chamber and a closed position preventing transfer offluid between said body and said chamber;

first actuating means for moving said first valve means from said openposition to said closed position;

second actuating means for moving said second valve means from said openposition to said closed position;

a block coupled so said second actuating means, said block having a slottherein for receiving a portion of said cable;

means mounted on said block for releasably holding said cable portion insaid slot;

means for firmly clamping said cable;

means including said second actuating means for coupling said housing tosaid clamping means for relative movement therewith, said clamping meanshaving means for limiting the movement of said second actuating meanswhereby movement of said housing causes said second actuating means toclose said second valve means; and

means connecting said first actuating means to said second actuatingmeans whereby said first actuating means closes said first valve meanssimultaneously with the closing of said second valve means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the center of gravity of saidhousing is laterally displaced from said clamping means whereby releaseof the cable portion by said releasably holding means causes relativemovement between said housing and said clamping means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said releasably holding meansincludes a post mounted on said block, a lever pivotally mounted on saidpost, said lever being movable to a first position wherein it holds saidcable portion in said slot and a second position wherein it releasessaid cable portion from said slot, spring means for urging said lever tosaid second position, and means for maintaining said lever in said firstposition against the force of said spring means.

4. Apparatus adapted to be lowered on a cable into a body of fluid fortaking a sample of the fluid, com prising:

a housing having a sample receiving chamber therein and a pair ofpassageways therethrough in communication with said chamber; first valvemeans positioned in one of said passageways, said valve means having anopen position permitting transfer of fluid between said body and saidchamber and a closed position preventing transfer of fluid between saidbody and said chamber; second valve means positioned in the other ofsaid passageways, said valve means having an open position permittingtransfer of fluid between said body and said chamber and a closedposition preventing transfer of fluid between said body and said chamber; a first actuating lever for moving said first valve means from saidopen position to said closed position; a second actuating lever formoving said second valve means from said open position to said closedposition; block pivotally coupled to said first actuating lever, saidblock having a slot therein for receiving a portion of said cable; meansmounted on said block for releasably holding said cable portion in saidslot; means for firmly clamping said cable, said second actuating leverbeing pivotally mounted on said clamping means, said clamping meansincluding for limit ing the pivotal movement of said second actuatinglever relative to said clamping means;

means including said block for connecting said first actuating leverwith said second actuating lever to maintain said levers in asubstantially constant relationship;

said housing having a center of gravity laterally displaced from saidclamping means whereby release of said cable by said releasably engagingmeans causes said housing and said second actuating lever to rotateabout the pivotal mounting of said lever on said clamping means untilsaid lever engages said limiting means, continued movement of saidhousing causing said housing to move relative to said second actuatinglever as well as said clamping means whereby said second actuating levermoves said valve means from said open position to said closed position,said connecting means causing said first actuating lever tosimultaneously move said first valve means from said open position tosaid closed position whereby a sample of said fluid is trapped in saidchamber.

5. Apparatus adapted to be lowered on a cable into a body of fluid fortaking a sample of the fluid, comprising:

a housing having a sample receiving chamber therein and a pair ofpassageways therethrough in communication with said chamber;

first and second plug valves positioned in said passageways, each ofsaid valves including a valve member having a passageway therethrough,said valve member having an open position wherein said valve passagewayis in alignment with said housing passageway thereby permitting transferof fluid between said body and said cavity and a closed position whereinsaid valve passageway is out of alignment with said housing passagewaythereby preventing transfer of fluid between said body and said chamber;

a first actuating lever having one end coupled to the valve member ofsaid first plug valve for moving said valve memberfrom said openposition to said closed position;

a second actuating lever having one end coupled to the valve member ofsaid second plug valve for moving said valve member from said openposition to said closed position;

a block having means pivotally mounting the other end of said firstactuating lever, said block having a slot therein for receiving aportion of said cable;

means mounted on said block for releasably holding said cable portion insaid slot;

a plate, said plate having means supported thereon for clamping saidcable, and means for pivotally mounting the other end of said secondactuating lever, said plate having a shoulder thereon for limiting thepivotal movement of said second actuating lever relative to said plate;

a connecting rod having one end coupled to said pivotally mounting meansand the other end coupled to said block whereby said levers aremaintained in a substantially constant relationship;

said housing having a center of gravity laterally displaced from saidclamping means whereby release of said cable by said releasably engagingmeans causes said housing and said second actuating lever to rotateabout said pivotal mounting means of said plate until said lever engagessaid shoulder, continued movement of said housing causing said housingpassageway to be rotated relative to said lever and said valve memberuntil said valve member is in its closed position, said connecting rodcausing said first actuating lever and said first valve member to moverelative to said housing passageway until said valve member is in itsclosed position whereby a sample of said fluid is trapped in saidchamber. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said releasably holdingmeans includes a post mounted on said block, a lever pivotally mountedon said post, said lever being movable to a first position wherein itholds said cable portion in said slot and a second position wherein itreleases said cable portion from said slot, spring means for urging saidlever to said second position, and means for maintaining said lever insaid first position against the force of said spring means.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said block is provided with anoblique slot adjacent said pivotal mounting means and said firstactuating lever is provided with a member pivotally mounted thereon anda spring for urging said member into contact with said block, saidmember and said slot serving to permit said first actuating lever topivot relative to said block in a first direction, but preventing saidfirst actuating lever from pivoting to said block in the oppositedirection once said member has entered said slot.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said releasably engaging meansinclude means operable by a weight slid down said cable to release saidcable 9. Apparatus adapted to be lowered on a cable into a body of fluidfor taking a sample of the fluid, comprising:

a housing having a sample receiving chamber therein and a pair ofpassageways therethrough in communication with said chamber;

first and second plug valves positioned in said passageways, each ofsaid valves including a valve member having a passageway therethrough,said valve member having an open position wherein said valve passagewayis in alignment with said housing pas sageway thereby permittingtransfer of fluid between said body and said cavity and a closedposition wherein said valve passageway is out of alignment with saidhousing passageway thereby preventing tranfer of fluid between said bodyand said chamber; first actuating lever having one end coupled to thevalve member of said first plug valve for moving said valve member fromsaid open position to said closed position;

second actuating lever having one end coupled to the valve member ofsaid second plug valve for moving said valve member from said openposition to said closed position;

means coupled to said housing for releasably engaging said cable;

a plate, said plate having means supported thereon for clamping saidcable, and means for pivotally mounting the other end of said secondactuating lever, said plate having a shoulder thereon for limiting thepivotal movement of said second actuating lever relative to said plate;

a connecting rod having one end coupled to said pivotally mountingmeans;

a block, said block being connected to the other end of said connectingrod, said block having means for pivotally mounting the other end ofsaid first actuating lever whereby said levers are maintained in asubstantially constant relationship, said block being provided with anoblique slot adjacent to said pivotal mounting means and said firstactuating lever being provided with a member pivotally mounted thereonand a spring for urging said member into contact with said block, saidmember and said slot serving to permit said first actuating lever topivot relative to said block in a first direction, but preventing saidfirst actuating lever from pivoting relative to said block in theopposite direction once said member has entered said slot;

said housing having a center of gravity laterally displaced from saidclamping means whereby release of said cable by said releasably engagingmeans causes said housing and said second actuating lever to rotateabout said pivotal mounting means of said plate until said lever engagessaid shoulder, continued movement of said housing causing said housingpassageway to be rotated relative to said lever and said valve memberuntil said valve member is in its closed position, said connecting rodcausing said first actuating lever and said first valve member to moverelative to said housing passageway until said valve member is in itsclosed position whereby a sample of said fluid is trapped in saidchamber.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,838,729 12/31Andrews 73425.4 2,391,978 1/46 Kahl 73425.4 2,589,985 3/52 Borneman251-181 3,038,694 6/62 Dunbeck et al. 251-181 3,077,201 2/63 Dumm 1373153,077,895 2/63 Vickery 137-315 RICHARD c. QUEISSER, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH P. STRIZAK, DAVID SCHONBERG,

Examiners.

1. APPARATUS ADAPTED TO BE LOWERED ON A CABLE INTO A BODY OF FLUID FORTAKING A SAMPLE OF THE FLUID, COMPRISING: A HOUSING HAVING A SAMPLERECEIVING CHAMBER THEREIN AND A PAIR OF PASSAGEWAYS, THERETHROUGH INCOMMUNICATION WITH SAID CHAMBER; FIRST VALVE MEANS POSITIONED IN ONE OFSAID PASSAGEWAYS, SAID VALVE MEANS HAVING AN OPEN POSITION PERMITTINGTRANSFER OF FLUID BETWEEN SAID BODY AND SAID CHAMBER AND A CLOSEDPOSITION PREVENTING TRANSFER OF FLUID BETWEEN SAID BODY AND SAIDCHAMBER; SECOND VALVE MEANS POSITIONED IN THE OTHER OF SAID PASSAGEWAYS,SAID VALVE MEANS HAVING AN OPEN POSITION PERMITTING TRANSFER OF FLUIDBETWEEN SAID BODY AND SAID CHAMBER AND A CLOSED POSITION PREVENTINGTRANSFER OF FLUID BETWEEN SAID BODY AND SAID CHAMBER; FIRST ACTUATINGMEANS FOR MOVING SAID FIRST VALVE MEANS FROM SAID OPEN POSITION TO SAIDCLOSED POSITION; SECOND ACTUATING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID SECOND VALVEMEANS FROM SAID OPEN POSITION TO SAID CLOSED POSITION; A BLOCK COUPLEDSO SAID SECOND ACTUATING MEANS, SAID BLOCK HAVING A SLOT THEREIN FORRECEIVING A PORTION OF SAID CABLE; MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BLOCK FORRELESABLY HOLDING SAID CABLE PORTION IN SAID SLOT; MEANS FOR FIRMLYCLAMPING SAID CABLE; MEANS INCLUDING SAID SECOND ACTUATING MEANS FORCOUPLING SAID HOUSING TO SAID CLAMPING MEANS FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENTTHEREWITH, SAID CLAMPING AT SAID SECOND ING MEANS FOR LIMITING THEMOVEMENT OF SAID SECOND ACTUATING MEANS WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF SAID HOUSINGCAUSES SAID SECOND ACTUATING MEANS TO CLOSE SAID SECOND VALVE MEANS; ANDMEANS CONNECTING SAID FIRST ACTUATING MEANS TO SAID SECOND ACTUATINGMEANS WHEREBY SAID FIRST ACTUATING MEANS CLOSES SAID FIRST VALVE MEANSSIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE CLOSING OF SAID SECOND VALVE MEANS.